Mail-pouch fastener.



v PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905. A. L. DAVISON. MAIL POUCH FASTENBR.

AiP LIOATION FILED MAY 21, 1904.

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A TTORNE rs UN TED STATES Patented January 24, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. DAVISON, OF LESTERVILLE, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO JOSEPH .J. WAGNER, NICHOLAS P. KREMER, SYD- NEY E. TILTON,' AND ZIBA F. WILLIAMS, OF LESTERVILLE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

MAIL-POUCH FASTENER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,946, dated January 24, 1905.

Application filed May 21, 1904. Serial No. 209,034.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. DAVISON, a citizen ofthe United 'States, residing at Lesterville, in the county of Yankton and State 5 of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Pouch Fasteners,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to novel means for the purpose stated, and has for its object not I only to improve and simplify the fastening device, but to provide means whereby the pouch or sack may be quickly closed and secured or locked closed in one operation.

The invention consists of the special construction, arrangement, and combination of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter fully described, and as pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view illustrating my invention in use. In this view the pouch or bag is shown part broken away. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the lock with the front plate removed and the parts shown at locked position. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the back and front plates of the lock removed and the parts of the latter at unlocked position. Fig. i is a horizontal sectional view through the lock, taken on line A 4 of Fig. 2;

and Fig. 5 is a view showing a key with which the lock may be worked.

In carrying out my invention I employ any suitable strap A, adapted to extend around the open end of a mail pouch or bag B, as shown in Fig. 1, and with a free end C.

D denotes a lock employing a case or box E and front and rear plates F. The latter plate has extended ends F, wherethrough and the straps A and the pouch or bag rivets are extended for fastening them in place,as shown 4 in Fig. l.

A ring or other device Gr may be arranged on the free end O of the strap A, and the other end of the strap has a loop H, providing attaching means thereto of the catch device "or head -I, the strap being extended through the loop H, as shown in Fig. 1. The catch device or head I has a substantially spear- An opening K is made in the case or box E, adapted to receive the catch device I and for engagement thereof With hooked dogs L, having pivotal support on lugs or pins M. The dogs L are made yielding by means of springs N, located at their rear sides, whose tension may be increased through arrangement and support provided by the front and rear plate fastening bolts or rivets O.

Within the case or box E,I arrange a pusherblock P, having suitable means or pins Q, adapted for engaging the lower ends of the dogs L and adjusting them when said block P is shoved inwardly to locking position, as shown respectively in Figs. 3 and 2. The block P'is yieldingly supported by means of a spring R, arranged thereunder on supporting-pins S.

Within the case or box IE, I arrange four tumblers T, with two thereof on opposite sides of an intermediate plate U, as best shown in Fig. 4:. The tumblers have notchesV in their upper or free ends adapted for receiving the lower outer .corners W of the dogs L and to prevent movement of the dogs from looking position when said tumblers are thrown inwardly by action of springs a, constructed, arranged, and supported similar to the springs N. The tumblers T have pivotal action on suitable lugs or pins 6. The inner edges 0 of the tumblers on one side of the plate U are intended to be closer together than the similar tumbler edges on the opposite side of said plate U. Keyholes d are made in the intermediateplateU and the front plate of the lock case or box adapted for receiving a suitable key 6, having long and short wards f. (Shown in Fig. 5.)

The construction and operation of my invention is apparent from the above description. In use the pouch or bag is opened and adapted for receiving the mail-matter, as will be understood. In closing and fastening the pouch or bag the free end C of the strap A is pulled, drawing the catch device 1 into the openingK of the lock. This action will force down the block P and the latter tilt the dogs L, forcing their upper or hooked ends into engagement with the notches J in the forward end of the eat-ch device I. In this position of the dogs L their lower ends will be engaged by and through action of the tumblers T, as hereinbefore described. When the tumblers are at adjustment under the dogs, as shown in Fig. 2, the latter will be secured against unlocking action of the catch device I. In further describing my invention it appears necessary only to say that upon simply placing the key 6 in the keyhole (Z and turning same the tumblers T will be forced apart through action of the key-Wards With the tumblers adjusted or forced apart as just described obviously the dogs will be thrown by action of the springs N out of locking engagement with the catch device I and the pouch or bag fastening thus released.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mail-pouch fastening, a strap encircling the pouch, the strap having an extended free end and its other end secured, a lock on the pouch, a catch device movably arranged on the straps free end, adapted to be drawn into the lock and secured by action of theloek mechanism, upon 'iulling the free end of the strap, during closure of the pouch-opening, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the pouch, a strap encircling the pouch and with one end secured thereto, said strap having an extended free end adapted to be grasped, a loop movably arranged on the free end of the strap, a catch device on said loop, a look at the secured end of the strap, and mechanism within the lock adapted for locking engagement with said catch device, when the latter is drawn into the lock, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the pouch havingan encircling end-securing strap, with one extended free end, and a movable catch d evice on the strap, of a lock employingengaging dogs, a pusher-block, and tumblers adapted to be worked with a suitable key, the dogs, pusherblock and tumblers being yieldingly supported, substantially as described.

ALBERT L. IDAVISON.

\Vitnesses:

( H. OLnsoN, Jos. PULLMAN. 

